Apple’s iPhone Plans Revealed
November 1, 2007 at 1:09 pm 29 comments
I had a rather long chat with my Apple informant yesterday centered mainly on iPods and iPhones. I’ll be revealing more on the iPods in the coming days but as far as iPhones are concerned, I’ve been provided with 3 main pieces of insight. I have to preface this information, without revealing too much about my source, by saying that (s)he is more knowledgeable about Apple’s future plans for the iPods than the iPhones and therefore the lack of specifics here. Now onto what I’ve been able to gather from our chat:
1) Apple has set itself an internal goal of shipping 50 million units ending in ’09. This seems to me like a lofty goal because currents expectations for units shipped in ’07 is between 3-4 million for a single 8 GB model. This would also give Apple a market share of about 8 % for total mobile handsets shipped in North America ending in ’09. It would make sense if Apple had more than one model to expect shipping that many units in two year’s time which brings me to the second point we talked about:
2) Apple plans to extend the iPhone lineup to 3 models. The current 8 GB unit will be the midrange model while a feature-cut model and a higher end model will also be introduced. No clue on the exact timeframe this might happen but if Apple is planning on shipping 50 million units in ’09, it makes sense that lineup will be complete at the latest by fall 2008.
3) The lower end starter model will not be touch based. Asked about what the actual physical interface would look like, my source had no particular insight.
I hope to have more specific information regarding the iPhones in the near future.
D.S.
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Eye On Apple by David Sieger 
1.
Michelle | November 1, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Computer hardware companies cannot compete with the new Apple gadgets that are coming out, because mostly Apple is creating the market for these products. People refer to any mp3 player as an iPod: ‘those kids and their damn iPods.’ regardless of the real brand of said player.
Like families in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, computer product companies are just trying to ‘keep up with the joneses, and let’s face it Mac is Mr. Jones, and when a Zune user downloads music from iTunes, Mr. Jones is sleeping with your wife.
This controversy over iPhone has been interesting, because even if you’re pissed that they lowered the price or that you have to sign up with ATT or that you cannot download 3rd party apps, most people still wouldn’t want to be seen with a knock off. I carry a blackberry proudly, because it’s not trying to be anything other than what it is. But to carry around something even remotely resembling an iPhone would just not be cool.
There were murmurings in early summer that Prada was coming out with an iPhone type phone, and that if anyone, they could grab some of the market share from Apple. Why Prada? Well, because it’s Prada, you know fashion, Prada. They would be trying to be something they are not, and they would look really good doing it. I’d carry one, I mean, it is Prada. (Note how I was able to fit the word Prada into this small paragraph 6 now 7 times? There’s nothing to be ashamed of here).
Then recently there has been talk of Google coming out with their own iPhone phone. A Google phone. It really does have a nice ring to it. And imagine all the third party apps. I would definitely carry one. It would satisfy that side of me that likes to be associated with the internet. And I could carry it around in my Prada bag, next to my iPod, and everyone wins!
2.
HAB | November 1, 2007 at 5:51 pm
DS – How accurate has your source been in the past? Thanks.
3.
blhseawa | November 1, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Until Apple releases an iPhone (160/320 GB) hard disk model, I could careless!
4.
Neil | November 1, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I know that ‘Michelle’ won’t be back to review replies to her total drivel, so I feel I have to say something.
Quote:
“Computer hardware companies cannot compete with the new Apple gadgets that are coming out, because mostly Apple is creating the market for these products.”
This idiotic statement is stunningly absurd, and is a mere foretaste of the mindless nonsense you’d be subjected to if you went to her pointless ‘blog’.
Ok so the iPhone.
Other companies cannot compete because no other company does what Apple does; actually think through the user experience from end to end.
Nor can they compete because they don’t have an SOB like Steve Jobs in charge, a man who gives his all for the company he believes in, and demands everyone under him to do the same.
Just pick up an iPhone and use it for 30 minutes. Then go to a Crackberry and try to use it. Do this WITHOUT referring to the manual.
The reason ‘Vista’ is a designer dogs dinner and Apple’s OSX ‘Leopard’ is simple and elegant is because Apple thinks it through. It’s the same reason that OSX security is exemplary next to Micros**t’s hopeless swiss cheese attempt at a modern OS.
Just think of the plaudits a hacker would earn if he made a real true virus that infected thousands of Macs. It would be immeasurable. And it won’t happen.
More please David.
Got your link from MDN.
5.
Terrance | November 1, 2007 at 9:53 pm
The possibility that Apple would even entertain the thought of introducing a non-touch based model of iPhone is beyond belief! I have to assume that the only “logic” behind the idea is that it would be an effort to lock out competitors in the lower price range. But this isn’t like having the iPod Shuffle in the MP3 player market. The iPhone is so revolutionary, so special, that cheapening it up would be like Tiffany’s opening up a bargain basement store. Because cellphones are not sold without being locked in to some carrier, again, it is a much different market with so many things to consider as compared with the MP3 market.
6. Rumor: iFones to add non-touch model | November 1, 2007 at 10:25 pm
[…] Apple’s iPhone Plans Revealed [via Mac Daily News] tr { border: 0px } td { cellborder: 10px} table { border: 1px solid black } […]
7.
cenasdacidade | November 1, 2007 at 10:34 pm
You know what really bothers about Apple?
They just ignore the Brazilian market. Dell is selling so much in here that they had to open a second factory. Notebook sales is up by 47% since last year. We have over 60 million cell phone lines – and people usually change their phones after 8 months. iPhone would sell like hotcakes in here – but they just ignore this huge market.
But it is a cool phone, anyway.
8.
Rip Ragged | November 1, 2007 at 10:43 pm
No hardware companies can ever compete with Apple until they do two things. One, control the hardware, software, delivery, and interoperabilty. Two, devote fanatical attention to trivial details.
9.
gwhiz | November 2, 2007 at 1:25 am
Sounds plausible enough… Look at the iPod lineup. Teensy and stripped down, middle of the line model and then the higher end video iPod. Makes sense they’d do same for iPhone.
10.
Brian Craig | November 2, 2007 at 2:02 am
Exactly! The iPhone line is going to follow the same path as the iPod if you look at Apple’s history. They stay true to form dotting the (i’s) and crossing the (t’s) because it works. . iPhone Savior ran a post on this article today (www.iphonesavior.com)
11.
java hut | November 2, 2007 at 2:12 am
I have a close friend that works for At&t and he has informed that the iPhone II is slated to come late in 2008. He confirmed that it will have 3G capabilities. He also informed me that the current iPhone will be released in the color red sometime near the end of November and beginning of December.
12.
Palmer Deville | November 2, 2007 at 3:48 am
Referring to the excerpt below, how can you possibly come to the conclusion that this would give Apple a market share of about 8 % for total mobile handsets shipped in North America ending in ‘09.
The iPhone will be shipping in several countries by this point and there is no way to break out a future estimation for North American percentages without having any clue as to the number of countries iPhone will be in at the end of 2009, or how successful the device will be in each country.
Continue the churn the rumor mill…
“Apple has set itself an internal goal of shipping 50 million units ending in ‘09. This seems to me like a lofty goal because currents expectations for units shipped in ‘07 is between 3-4 million for a single 8 GB model. This would also give Apple a market share of about 8 % for total mobile handsets shipped in North America ending in ‘09.”
13.
magusmagnus | November 2, 2007 at 4:01 am
why do they need to release a starter model which is not touch based? I expected was that they’ll innovate the way people use their phones, it’s like they were too scared to extend the potentials of the touch screen,and so they put that lower end model in the roster to play safe in the market.
14.
Vaibhav Pandey-->Technofriends Team | November 2, 2007 at 8:03 am
Hmm.. interesting. Sounds achievable for Apple until Google or some other biggie comes out with something never thought of 😉
cheers
Vaibhav
15.
emersondirect | November 2, 2007 at 1:55 pm
This has to be a response to Google launching their phone. This is a response shot over the bow of G after G had shot one over theirs. I wonder if we benefit or not when 2 giant companies like this compete? But as far as Apple releasing 3 new phones, doesn’t it make better sense to release the one phone to multiple carriers?
16.
maclover | November 2, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Interesting but definitely hearsay as of this moment. BUT who know what Apple Inc.’s plans are? After all, they always like to surprise the public and their competition… With silent updates, cutting-edge technologies, and an ever-growing fanbase… Steve Jobs might as well run for Governor! LOL… but Apple has the capability to do this, slowly but surely! But as for now, it’s all rumors….
17.
Steve Ballmer | November 2, 2007 at 3:24 pm
LIES!
Apple plans to ditch the iPhone sometime next year when we launch the ZunePhone!
btw:
I love my kids! Do you? Let me put that another way, do you let them use Macs?
I once had a grounds keeper for the Northeast lawn, I gave hinm a 3400 sqft house, 58k salary, truck and performance bonuses. I went there one evening to complain about a dandylion I found near the heliport. When I walked in I discovered he and his family had four 24″ iMacs in the place! I called the department of social services which took the kids to foster homes, I fired him and had him deported and made his wife a maid in the south-west wing!
Now you tell me if having a Mac is good for your children!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
18.
teaching ♥ | November 2, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I don’t think iPhone will follow iPods path because it lacks many things and is not that stable (so I’ve heard).
19.
Neal | November 2, 2007 at 6:05 pm
You people are nuts. The iPhone IS multi-touch…Multi-Touch IS the iPhone. Its the reason the phone exists. Any other interface would be a crappy compromise. Come on, a “nano” interface with a circular iPod-style interface? How hard would that be to type on, or make calls with? A smaller, touch-based iPhone? How much smaller can you get before your fingers get too large to properly touch the screen?
No, Apple’s iPhone is the MINIMUM STANDARD. Thats what Apple does… they set the bar very high. They might be able to shrink the package a little, but not much. Try holding a nano up to your face like a phone..its too small. The next phone may have more features, not less.
20.
edesigned | November 3, 2007 at 1:31 am
Why pay attention to specualtion and gossip? You may dead tomorrow.
The best reply of all these is from fake steve ballmer, you really make me laugh because you are so real.
21.
Peter | November 3, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I had the pleasure of “playing” with a display model of the iPhone (with a store SIM for evaluation purposes) in an Antwerp, Belgium, Europe mega-store. Virtually most European countries have next to perfect 3G and even cable-speed umts-hsdpa 3.5G coverage.
The iPhone UI is as perfect as it can get, but who on earth stripped 3G from this model? The iPhone on display was surrounded by countless high-speed 3G smartphones (from Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, etc) who provided high speed Live TV to these (less flattering, but very functional) handsets.
Ever used a 3G Nokia N95 with a 5 M camera, a GPS that gets you anywhere and 3G speed that allows 20 channel live TV?
The iPhone doesn’t have any of these features,
it only has a great UI.
The current iPhone may have the best UI, but when its comes to delivering data the slow EDGE GSM speed feels like using an antiquity…
22.
Conservation Matters | November 3, 2007 at 9:52 pm
AMERICAN ENERGY WASTE is EVERYWHERE !
Energy waste in America is horrendous and FIXABLE !
(1) We over heat and over cool our homes, businesses, offices, schools, churches, etc…
(2) 10’s of millions of outdoor lights burn during the day.
(3) Most Americans do not minimize their driving.
(4) Over packaging is the norm. Recycling is inadequate . Our landfills are busier than ever.
(5) Road construction in America is the ultimate contradiction.
The ONLY way to reduce energy waste and over demand is by using the economics of taxing energy, in lieu of Federal Income Tax. UNTIL the price of gas is $6 to $8 per gallon, hedonistic America will not significantly reduce its over consumption and energy waste. Federal Gas Tax should be $4 to $6 per gallon and ‘offset’ by making Federal Income Tax begin at $60k.
ONLY with a tangible/dollar reward will America care to conserve.
In the mean time, the USA continues to ‘give away’ its economic and political wealth to the Islamic Middle East via OPEC, so we can continue our energy waste. Know that the Islamic dominated OPEC cartel is glad to allow supply and demand market forces to drive energy prices to $8/gallon. The Islamics, who want to annihilate us, will likely succeed; using our American ‘gas money’ to buy the weapons needed to do so.
China, India, and other ‘developing countries’ are just beginning to compete for the world’s remaining energy supply. Geopolitical unrest is directly related to global competition for energy and natural resources. If global demand for energy is not dramatically reduced, World war is inevitable.
Ford and General Motors are headed for bankruptcy, which will leave 100,000,000 Americans unemployed, ruin our economy, and lead to anarchy. America can no longer continue to ‘do business as usual’. Ford and GM need to transition to the lucrative business of building solar and wind ‘energy producers’ for the world’s 6.7 BILLION people reason$. The world cannot continue to support all the automakers. We are running out of petroleum. Wake up !
Mass transit must reward those who reduce their driving and thereby become FREE, SAFE, CLEAN, and CONVENIENT. Only then, will significant numbers of people use it.
The ONLY workable means by which America can implement intelligent sustainable energy conservation, is by using the economic incentive of TAXING ENERGY – NOT INCOME!
ps; i love my iPhone and Apple philosophy.
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24.
Idetrorce | December 16, 2007 at 1:31 am
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
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27.
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28.
Jason Poste | April 27, 2008 at 6:56 am
Thank you for the excellent post. I bought an iPhone recently and still figuring out how to grasp the full potential of this marvel.
29.
Tom | August 23, 2008 at 5:53 pm
50 million shipping in 09 doesn’t seem too hard now!